Human Traffic_Sex, Slaves and Immigration

Rating:
Summary: Very informative
Review: I would have given this book a higher rating, but I think it suffers from a few serious flaws. As other reviewers have pointed out, the Asian sex trade is very well researched and reported on in detail. It covers all aspects of the sex trade, such as the management/organization, (how it bypasses) the legal framework and of course the customers and the 'sex slaves' themselves.

There is definitely a feminist bias in the book. I can understand that this research can make the author emotional and angry, but expressing sentiments so clearly and expressively - and also the not infrequent generalizations (such as Pakistani men are so and so and Japanese men are so and so) certainly reduces the credibility of the book. As the last reviewer also noted I also found the book quite repetitive, some parts to such a degree that I skipped over them as I felt I wasn't reading anything new. I believe this is a result of a lack of structure - although the book itself is well structured into its constituent chapters, the chapters themselves seem rather unorganized, and I feel some parts/information would have fit better elsewhere. Sometimes I had to leaf back to prior parts in the book to 'connect the dots'.

Nevertheless, the book is worth reading for the information, some of it little known (I have lived in Asia and heard some of the stories before, but there is plenty of info that was truly new to me) - and in particular the many direct accounts of the prostitutes themselves.

I find it difficult to rate this book. I admite the author's courage and intentions - writing a book on a topic too many people are afraid to speak of, and too little seem genuinely concerned about. Nevertheless, I feel it needs some editing: some shortening, some structuring, and certainly some modifications if it wants to be a credible report of academic research.

Rating:
Summary: Surprising
Review: Much has been written about the subject of refugees and asylum seekers. Wave after wave of polemic fills the column inches across countries in Europe, yet little is known about the people smugglers themselves.

Into this charged debate comes 'Human Traffic' . This book is an intriguing, informative and occasionally pretty surprising read. Crisply written and opening a door into an often-talked about, yet closed world, it is a credit to Scottish journalist Craig McGiill's efforts and investigations over several years.

I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending it.